Reactions to September 11 in US Daily Comic Strips

Morris & Lombard, 2002

Online Data Entry Coding Sheet/Manual

General Coding Rules:

  1. Each comic stands alone. Code it as an independent entity. Knowledge of other comics, or previous or future installments of same comic should not be applied (except for coding for "part of story sequence")
  2. Coding reference text/image means references specific to 9-11 (i.e. a uniformed cop not at WTC is not a reference specific to 9-11, unless the text so specifies).
  3. When in doubt, consider whether the strip/reference/etc. is ABOUT 9-11.
1. CASE NUMBER:   [Enter 200 for testing]

2. CODER:

Nancy Morris

Matthew Lombard

3. TOPIC:

 

4. REFERENCE TO 9-11:

in text only

in image only

in both

4A. IF TEXT (OR BOTH): (select all that apply)

Osama

Ashcroft

Bush

Date 9-11 (in any format)

Terrorists

Police/cops/firefighters

Hero(es)

God

America or derivatives (U.S., Americans, etc.)

Other (Specify):

4B. IF IMAGE (OR BOTH): (select all that apply)

WTC intact

WTC in flames

WTC aftermath

WTC visual allusion to

Pentagon

FLAG in public place

FLAG on house/residence

FLAG on clothes

FLAG as background ("wallpaper") of frame

FLAG Other (Specify):

Eagle

Iwo Jima

Other patriotic (Specify):

Candle

Hug

Cops/firemen (uniformed)

Other noteworthy (Specify):

5. REFERENCE TYPE to 9-11:

Explicit (can only refer to 9-11)

Implicit (refers to social context of post 9-11)

Ambiguous (doesn’t refer to social context of post 9-11, could be any time – current social context makes it applicable to 9-11 (Can read 911 into it))

6. Part of STORY SEQUENCE:

YES (a narrative connection w/ previous or next day)

NO

7. FORMAT - BREAKING 4TH WALL:

YES

NO

7A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Characters look at reader

Characters address reader

Direct address to readers from artist

Allusion to other comic strips

Other (Specify):

8. HUMOR:

YES

NO (no humor attempted)

9. INVOLVEMENT (portrayal of direct connection between strip character and 9-11):

YES

NO

9A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Connection to victim

Military service b/c of 9-11

Reporter/media worker on 9-11 issues

Rescue worker (cop, fire, other)

Blood donation

Other (Specify):

10. COMMUNICATION MEDIA included:

YES

NO

10A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

TV

Print

WWW

Other MASS MEDIA (Specify):

Phone

E-mail

Other MEDIATED INTERPERSONAL MEDIA (Specify):

11. CHANGE HAS HAPPENED explicitly mentioned:

YES

NO

11A. IF YES:

Exact wording used:

11B. TYPE OF CHANGE: (select all that apply)

Personal (my life, priorities)

Social

Cultural (pop/high)

Institutional (operation of govt., system)

General or unspecified

11C. ALLUSION TO PERMANENCE/WEARING OFF?

YES

NO

11D. IF YES:

Exact wording used:

12. CRITICAL:

YES

NO

12A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Of POLITICAL SYSTEM

Of SOCIAL BEHAVIOR (behavior of groups/individuals; includes negative bandwagon)

Of ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Of MEDIA

12B. IF of POLITICAL SYSTEM: (select all that apply)

Govt. stupidity

Loss of rights/threatened loss of rights

Other political system (Specify):

THEMES

13. UNITY (desirable; must be explicit; support/united we stand/coming together/positive bandwagon):

YES

NO

13A. IF YES:

Exact wording used:

14. PROFILING:

YES

NO

14A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Middle Easterners

Apparent Middle Easterners wrongly taken for M.E.

Hate crimes

Other (Specify):

15. FEAR/DANGER - acknowledgment of (with respect to 9-11, even if implicit):

YES

NO

15A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

General

Specific: Flying

Specific: Anthrax

Specific: Other (Specify):

16. REMEDIES (what will make us feel better?)

YES

NO

16A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Food

Affection (hugs etc)

Time

Other (Specify):

17. SURVIVE – we will survive (personal or societal level):

YES

NO

18. AMERICAN VALUES (with respect to 9-11, even if implicit):

YES

NO

18A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

"Freedom"

Free expression/speech

Democracy

Other (Specify):

18B. IF YES:

Critical

Supportive

19. HEROES/COPS/FIREFIGHTERS:

YES

NO

20. PATRIOTISM (overt support for U.S.):

YES

NO

21. GRIEVING:

YES

NO

22. SILVER LINING:

YES

NO

22A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Cops respected

Cops wear vests

Formerly unallowable behavior permitted (i.e. can smash pumpkin)

Other (Specify):

23. RELIGION:

YES

NO

23A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Faith

Loss of faith

Fanaticism

Other (Specify):

24. AFRICAN-AMERICANS DISPLACED BY MIDDLE EASTERNERS AS MOST SUSPECT ETHNIC GROUP IN U.S.:

YES

NO

25. COMMUNICATION:

YES

NO

25A. IF YES: (select all that apply)

Lack of = problem

Existence of = solution

Other (Specify):

26. OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THIS COMIC: